Method of forming axles for automobiles or the like



Jan. 30, 1934. STQRER 1,945,092

METHOD OF FORMING AXLES FOR AUTOMOBILES OR THE LIKE Original Filed Jan. 13 1930 Fig.1

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y INVENTOR. BY fiygfjg ATTORNEYS.

G. B. STORER 1,945,092

METHOD OF FORMING KXLES FOR AUTOMOBILES OR THE LIKE Jan. 30,- 1934.

Original Fil ed Jan. 15, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.6

- 13 Tw V IN V EN TOR. c fl. @5744 Y- 05/, ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 30, 1934 UNITED STATES METHOD 01" FORMING 'AXLES FOR AUTOMOBILES OR THE LIKE (mm a. Storer, Detroit, Mich, ulignor, i,

a-ignmen Engineering to Company, Toledo, Ohio,

Unchel a corporation of Ohio application hnuary 13, 1930, Said Divided and this application Febnary 27, 1931. Serial No. 518,627

2 Claims.

This invention relates to axles for vehicles, particularly automobiles, and an important object is to produce a simple and eflicient method of forming an axle from steel tubing so that axles may be efliciently produced on a commercial basis.

' Further objects 0! the invention will hereinafter appear, and the invention is shown by way of illustration, but not of limitation, in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation showing one step in the forming of the spring perch seat, in which the tube is disposed within a die, and is subjected to end pressure;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation showing another step in the forming of the spring perch seat, in

which a mandrel is inserted in the tube for forcing the collapsed portion of the tube outwardly;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation showing the spring perch seat after being subjected to a pressing or squeezing operation to flatten the top and bottom sides and outwardly bow the lateral sides;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional elevation showing one step in the formation of the end portion of the axle in which a plug is inserted into the tube;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, in which the tube axle is swaged and welded to the plug; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the axle as completed.

This application constitutes a division of my application Serial No. 420,544, filed January 13,

5 1930, entitled Automobile axle and method of making the same.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the axle, which may be that for use in connection with an automobile of the Ford type, is formed from steel tubing, and although this may be formed from seamless steel tubing, it is preferable to use longitudinal seamed tubing in order to minimize costs. After the tubing has been cut to the desired length it is heated adjacent each 5 end portion. Preferably; the metal is heated between 2,000 and 2,300 degrees, in order to make the metal relatively soft. As indicated in Fig. 1, the area A is heated, as above explained, although the length of the tubing subjected to heat 0 may be varied as desired, and in accordance with the demand. After the area A has been heated to the desired degree it is inserted into a die 10, which confines the peripheral surface of the tube. Thereafter, the tube is subjected to end pressure, as by means of a plunger 11, in order to force the metal of the area A together thereby to increase the thickness of the tube walls in that region. In carrying out this step pressure may be exerted from'opposite ends of the tube or from one end with an abutment member for the opposite end. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated there is a tendency for the metal to bow "or collapse inwardly, as indicated in Fig.

1. However, the desired result may be obtained by confining the inner walls of the tube and then subjecting the tube to end pressure, outward collapsing will follow. It has been found satisfactory in carrying out the method to cause the tube to collapse in the manner indicated.

After this step is accomplished it will be evident that the thickness of the walls in the area A'is considerably increased, and this thickness is of the order of twice the thickness of the adjacent tube walls, thereby greatly enhancing the strength of the area A as compared with the strength of the adjacent walls.

Thereafter a mandrel 12 of substantially the diameter of the inside of the.tube is forced therein, as indicated in Fig. 2, to make uniform the diameter of the tube throughout and provide an outwardly extending projection 13 on the outside of the tube. The projection 13 serves as a seat for the spring perch, as will hereinafter appear.

Thereafter, the enlargement 13 oil the tube is subjected to a squeezing operation, either in a press or by any other suitable means. By means of this squeezing eflect the tube in the region of the thickened wall area assumes a shape substantially as indicated in Fig. 4, in which the top 14 and bottom 15 are substantially flat, and the opposite, vertically disposed sides '16 are outwardly bowed. By outwardly bowing the sides in this manner the spring perch seat is enabled to successfully withstand greater stresses than it could otherwise. By having the sides bowed in this manner a certain amount of spring action is available to the structure which has been found effective in enhancing the strength, rigidity and durability of the axle. It will be understood that a spring perch seat after the above described manner is formed ad'- jacent each end portion of the axle, description of the formation of one being considered sumcient. In order to receive the spring perch bolt a hole 14 is drilled through the flattened sides 14 and 15 so that the bolt may extend through the seat and be rigidly secured in place for holding the axle to the spring or other portion of the vehicle.

It will bemanifest to those skilled in this art that a tubular axle not only presents a pleasing appearance but is much lighter than the usual I-beam type of axle. The difliculty heretofore experienced in producing an axle of this type has been not only in the provision of an adequate support for the spring perches, but also the formation of the end portions of the axle so that these may be sufficiently rigid to withstand the stresses and strains towhich they are subjected. In accordance with this invention the end portions of the tube axle are solid. As shown in Fig. 5, a plug 15 of steel, or other suitable material, and of slightly less diameter than the inside of the tube, is inserted part way into an end of the tube.

Thereafter, the end portion of the tube is swaged into intimate contact with the plug, and by heating the assembly the plug and tube are welded together. Thereafter, the end portions are forged into the shape substantially as shown in Fig. 7 to provide vertical bearing portions 16 and bearing portions 17. Through the vertical bearing portion 16 a hole 18 may then be drilled and a hole 19 through the bearing portion 17.

It will be seen that I have provided a method which constitutes a valuable advance in the art, and while I have shown the invention in a certain physical embodiment,it is to be understood that modifications of the method shown and described may be made by those skilled in this art without departing from my invention as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. That method of forming a spring perch seat for an automobile axle which consists in providing a tube, heating a portion of the tube until the metal is relatively soft, upsetting the tube axially to force the relatively soft metal of said portion together for increasing the wall thickness in that region, forcing said portion outwardly to provide substantially uniform internal diameter, squeezing the tube at such portion to how the sides outwardly, and forming a hole through the tube for reception of a spring perch bolt or similar securing means.

2. That method of forming a spring perch seat for an automobile axle which consists in providing a hollow tube of continuous periphery, subjecting an area of the tube to heat until the metal is I relatively soft, confining the exterior of the tube, upsetting the tube to force the metal of such area together thereby increasing the thickness of the wall in that region and collapsing the tube inwardly, forcing the inwardly collapsed area outwardly to provide a substantially uniform internal diameter to the tube, and squeezing such area to bow the sides of the area outwardly;

GEORGE B. STORER. 

